Reintegration planning
Children’s resettlement needs are addressed prior to release. An effective multi-agency response is used to meet the specific needs of each individual child to maximise the likelihood of successful reintegration into the community.
83. Children receive adequate services and practical help to properly prepare them for their release. Appropriate care and accommodation is arranged before their release.
The following indicators describe evidence that may show this expectation being met, but do not exclude other ways of achieving it.
- Children have a pre-release plan which sets out who will care for them, where they will live and the services agreed for their release. This covers all areas of need and is in place at least 14 days prior to release.
- Children are prepared for disorientation on release, through the use of release on temporary license (ROTL) to aid reorientation, and by ensuring that day of release plans are prepared and confirmed at least two weeks before leaving custody.
- ROTL is used to support all aspects of release planning and access to interventions.
- Children are always met at the gate by an appropriate adult.
- Suitable clothes and bags are available to released children who do not have them.
- Children can make a telephone call and charge their mobile phone before release.
- Facilities are available before discharge to launder clothes that have been in storage for long periods.
- Children receive money owed to them from their establishment accounts to assist with reintegration. Children without private funds are given enough support to meet their immediate needs.
- Children are told about any relevant support in the community and this is recorded in their pre-release plan.
- Measures are taken to ensure that all children fully understand any licence requirements.
- On release children receive all their property.
Cross reference with: daily life – residential services; training planning and remand management; early days in custody.